Autopsy Completed: Results #2

I was just rereading...If this engine went together with studs, and the shop did not tell you to align hone the mains, there's a very good chance there are other issues. What are your heads? are you POSITIVE the valve heights are correct? That the guides were trimmed? Did you remove the rotators from the exh valves? Were the decks and/or heads milled? Was lifter preload checked? if so, what was it? The studs are the equivilent of forgetting to torque a cylinder head. Unfortunate, but a bad sign. I would advise you, if you havent changed already, to not let this place "fix" anything. The cam issues may not be fixed by replacing with a Comp..they cause is still there. Experience tells me the last thing you blame, after measuring everything else and verifying the break in procedures, is the cam/lifter. There are bad ones, but far fewer bad lifters then errors created by machine shops/machinists.

Keep your head up..it's not worth tossing, it IS worth triple checking everything again. and again after that. I find at times like this that a complete change of tasks helps..put it all down, and walk away..it will all be there when you return. Just dont play golf..that doesnt help much..